No matter what kind of car you drive, you want it to have an enjoyable ride. You want smooth handling, to not notice all the little bumps in the road, and to have fun while you’re driving. If you’re driving an older car, you may not be experiencing all of this at the moment. And while there is only so much you can do to improve the ride of a car, there are some changes you can make that will give it a more enjoyable ride. Below are 6 things to add to your car that will hopefully give you more enjoyment out of it:
An Improved Sound System
Start with an improved sound system. Who doesn’t love driving around, playing their favorite music as loud as they can? To do this, you essentially need two things. The first is a good speaker system. Newer car models all have great speaker systems, but this isn’t necessarily the case with older models. Luckily, it isn’t too hard or expensive to install some better speakers and improve the quality.
The other thing you need is the ability to play the music you want. Newer cars come with the ability to easily connect your mobile device, allowing you to play music from your phone or favorite streaming service. But if you have an older car, you may not have this connectivity. Installing an entire center console for this purpose isn’t practical, so you’ll need an alternative. Try getting a radio transmitter that connects to your phone, allowing you to play your music through an unused radiofrequency.
Better Suspension System
When you’re driving, you don’t want to notice when you hit bumps in the road. You want to be able to drive over all those holes without bouncing around inside your car. For this, you need a good suspension system. Replacing the suspension system is costly but if you really want a smoother ride, this is the best thing to do. To learn more about replacing the suspension system on a car, you can check out this guide.
Replace the Tires
Tires are another factor when it comes to the smoothness of a ride. Bald tires don’t grip the road as well and are therefore not only less safe, but decrease the smoothness of your ride. It’s fairly easy to replace the tires and wheels on your car, making this an easy choice of where to start. Even if your ride feels smooth, it’s a good idea to rotate and replace your tires regularly to keep you and your passengers safe.
Replace the Brake Pads and Rotors
When your brake pads and rotors start to wear down, it can cause the car to vibrate and shake. This makes for an unenjoyable ride every time you have to use the brakes. If you are noticing this vibration – or worse, hear a loud screeching sound – it’s time to replace the brake pads and rotors. This is a relatively inexpensive solution that will keep you safer at the same time. It’s also fairly easy to do, and if you’re handy, you may be able to replace your own brake pads.
Add in More Comfortable Seats
Nothing makes a ride more unenjoyable than uncomfortable seats. If you’re uncomfortable after driving for only a short while, your seats are likely to blame. This is a common problem with older cars, as the material inside the seats has worn down. The solution is to replace the seats with a more comfortable fabric. Choose the type of fabric that makes the most sense for you. For example, some people prefer the feel of leather seats, but these can also become hot in the summer months. If you want to save money, consider simply getting comfortable seat covers for your car rather than replacing the seats entirely.
Keep it Clean
Finally, work to keep your car clean. If you’re driving around in a car that is filled with clutter or dust, it’s hard to really enjoy the ride. Take some pride in your vehicle and regularly remove any trash or unwanted items. Also, bring it to a car wash regularly and have them clean the inside, or do it yourself. After making all the changes above, you’ll appreciate them more if you are driving around in a clean and clutter-free car.
Don’t feel like you need to settle for driving around in a car that you don’t enjoy. If you don’t have the money for the latest new car, you can still drive something enjoyable by investing a little time and money into your current car.